Test Cricket Returning to Pakistan! Sri Lanka to tour Pakistan for a 2-Match Test Series in December

[Targaryen]

Great to see test cricket returning to Pakistan. People in Asia are crazy about cricket and what is more pleasant than to see cricket coming back home after a decade, it will be a great feeling for people to watch test cricket live and support their home team.

 

[AsadRM]

Rawalpindi's stadium is ready to host the test match. The white small building has been completed this month. Interestingly, only the 2 enclosures have seats (enclosures with pepsi branding) while others have concrete slabs.

 

[AsadRM]

This series is very crucial for revival of cricket in Pakistan.

PCB is in talks with Bangaldesh as Pakistan is due to host them for 3 T20Is and 2 Tests in Jan/Feb 2020. Pakistan wants to play the entire series in Pakistan and has also proposed a Day/Night Test Match in Karachi. BCB is still awaiting clearance from their government and their loint of view is that they will play only T20s in Pakistan and Tests in neutral venue. Interestingly, Bangladesh U-16 Men and Women's team already toured this year but sadly, the security measures are not the same for men's International team.

PCB is also in talks with South Africa and Ireland for a tour in April or May 2020 as Pakistan's window is completely empty at that time. Ireland Cricket Board's CEO recently visited and he was completely satisfied with the security measures.

PCB is also expecting Afghanistan to tour in 2020. So, good times are going to be finally back for Pakistan

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

This series is very crucial for revival of cricket in Pakistan.

PCB is in talks with Bangaldesh as Pakistan is due to host them for 3 T20Is and 2 Tests in Jan/Feb 2020. Pakistan wants to play the entire series in Pakistan and has also proposed a Day/Night Test Match in Karachi. BCB is still awaiting clearance from their government and their loint of view is that they will play only T20s in Pakistan and Tests in neutral venue. Interestingly, Bangladesh U-16 Men and Women's team already toured this year but sadly, the security measures are not the same for men's International team.

PCB is also in talks with South Africa and Ireland for a tour in April or May 2020 as Pakistan's window is completely empty at that time. Ireland Cricket Board's CEO recently visited and he was completely satisfied with the security measures.

PCB is also expecting Afghanistan to tour in 2020. So, good times are going to be finally back for Pakistan

And to add to that:

 

[AsadRM]

And to add to that:

And to add to that too PCB CEO Wasim Khan has said "Australia have agreed to play 3 instead of 2 test matches in Pakistan in 2022. Also they'll play 3 tests, 3 ODIs and 3 T20 matches between 2023 to 2031 in Pakistan". (The News)

This is going to be great.

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

And to add to that too PCB CEO Wasim Khan has said "Australia have agreed to play 3 instead of 2 test matches in Pakistan in 2022. Also they'll play 3 tests, 3 ODIs and 3 T20 matches between 2023 to 2031 in Pakistan". (The News)

This is going to be great.

Hopefully everything works out. :fingerscrossed

 

[hammadahmed88]

I hate to be one of those people that quotes themselves but...

Yesss....but really though would anyone be in the least surprised if they just make him ride the bench and he doesn't get a game?

 

[hammadahmed88]

I don't see how Fawad Alam's inclusion is beneficial to Pakistan Cricket Team because apparently he is going to play 3 years at the most. In ideal situation he would fade away in 6 months or so. At worst he won't even get a match. For once I can understand the Indian team wanting to have Dhoni back because he has established himself as a great of the game but what has Fawad Alam done ? Does scoring runs alone in domestic Cricket gives you privilege to play at the top level ? And if he is the best choice you have then just think about how worse PCB has been in scouting young talent.

Also, do not underestimate the importance of culture. Fawad Alam brings athleticism, and discipline that's required in the longer format of the game. Pakistani players are sorely lacking this at the moment. Perhaps some would rub off on some younger players. It's no coincidence that as soon as Younis and Misbah retired, people like Shafiq and Azhar have struggled greatly. Having someone who's a veteran like Fawad eases the pressure off younger players like Babar, or anyone else they might decide to try out for as long as Fawad plays, which hopefully is a long time.Not to mention, 3 years is quite long anyways.

 

[CerealKiller]

Well, an unsurprising omission, in Fawad being benched, while it is surprising to see 4 pacers without Yasir. I think it's a good development, similar surfaces in the future, plus the usual winter conditions could help our pacers improve. However you don't want to overdo it with seaming pitches like in domestic, which would just favour medium pacers. So if it seams like this at the start, then spins a bit at the end, it'd be the ideal Pakistani surface.
@Na Maloom Afraad how's the weather like in Karachi?

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

@Na Maloom Afraad how's the weather like in Karachi?

It's pretty good! It's really cold with breezes flowing, but the Sun's out almost the entire day.

 

[CerealKiller]

What's the point of keeping square leg back? The bowlers have been chipping away at the top of off or slightly wider, by keeping that fielder back you're gifting the batsmen a single if the bowler errs on the pads a bit. Azhar still unconvincing as captain.

 

[AsadRM]

Azhar still unconvincing as captain.

Pakistani media is not very trustable but according to a few newspapers this series could be make or break of Azhar's captaincy. Some board officials are not happy and if the performance in this series is not satisfactory, he could be shown the door. Again, this can't be trusted

 

[CerealKiller]

Pakistani media is not very trustable but according to a few newspapers this series could be make or break of Azhar's captaincy. Some board officials are not happy and if the performance in this series is not satisfactory, he could be shown the door. Again, this can't be trusted

I'd stick with him still. Don't want too much instability. But he needs runs, desperately.
Pacers have been as inconsistent in the third session as they were in the first. Need to go back to the standard shown in the second session. Naseem and Abbas bowled an excellent couple of overs, need to build on that now.

 

[CerealKiller]

Pacers have been as inconsistent in the third session as they were in the first. Need to go back to the standard shown in the second session. Naseem and Abbas bowled an excellent couple of overs, need to build on that now.

And they do! Mathews gone. All of the wickets so far haven't been surprising. The bowlers kept their lines tight, and it brought a wicket, and the pattern repeated itself. The only runs came when lengths and lines were inconsistent.

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

Pakistan are waaayyy behind on the over rate. This will surely result in points being deducted from the WTC.